Ravens Introduce Paperless Season Tickets

Credit: Scott Wykoff
A look inside the boxes being sent to season ticket holders

Baltimore Ravens season ticket holders won't even need their tickets on them to get into M&T Bank Stadium this coming season.

The Baltimore Ravens announced Thursday that season ticket holders will be able to access their tickets through the team's mobile app (or transfer or sell tickets through the app). Alternatively, season ticket holders will get a credit card-sized season ticket card to get through the gates.

"This is another step forward in our mission to enrich the gameday experience and deliver convenience for our fans,” Baker Koppelman, the team's senior vice president of ticket sales and operations, said in a statement. “Ultimately, this will streamline access to the stadium and make the overall ticketing experience more efficient.”

Teams like the NBA's San Antonio Spurs and Charlotte Hornets and MLB's Washington Nationals have introduced paperless season tickets. In Washington, season plan holder cards get fans into special plan holder entrances and allows them to use their card like a rechargeable payment card at stands in Nationals Park, with a discount on team store purchases.

Ravens president Dick Cass:

The Ravens highlight the new system's quicker access to the stadium, easier ticket transfers and the security benefits of there being no paper tickets to be lost, stolen or forgotten.

“We’re paralleling the world, which includes the sports, entertainment and airline industries,” Ravens president Dick Cass said. “This is an NFL initiative that all teams must implement by 2019, but we’re excited to move forward this season so our fans have a simple, smart and secure way to use Ravens tickets.”

Though in the short term, Cass said he expects fans will take a little time trying to learn the new system. He said the move was made to get ahead of NFL requirements.

Baker Koppelman, senior vice president of ticket sales and operations:

The team also announced that the stadium's Wi-Fi capacity will be five times what it was last season, going from 2 gigabytes per second to 10. Also still underway are $120 million in self-funded enhancements. Phase one, completed before last season, included two new, larger video displays.

The second and third phases, which will remain underway after the coming NFL season, will include new escalators and elevators to the upper deck, with the first new escalator set to open in October.

New suites are being built into each open notch of the upper bowl, with video boards being installed atop each. A new sound system will be ready for the start of the new season.

All concession stands and bar/lounge areas on the club level will also see upgrades, including design, audio/visual capabilities and new food options, along with better kitchen facilities to support concessions throughout the stadium.